"Feeling more comfortable?" I sighed happily as I kicked my bare feet into the lake water. A muffin wrapper was crumpled up in my left hand as the other wiped the rest of the crumbs off the corner of my mouth from the blueberry pastry.
"Absolutely." I smiled wide at Lili, who was beside me on the dock as my free hand now flopped down onto my chest. "Thanks, Lils."
"I got ya." She gave me a smile of her own as she poked at the side of my boots that were resting beside her. "It can get a bit overwhelming and stuff with those kids." She moved the boots, now just a little more to the side as she moved to lay down on the dock beside me. "Out here is always better than being suffocated by those bastards."
"Do you chill by the docks a lot then?"
"Nah," She adjusted so she could lay her head on her arms like a makeshift pillow while staying up at the bright blue sky. "Normally with the little hidden flower garden I made in the forest."
"Guess you like flowers than most people then, huh?" I gave her a half smile as she turned her attention toward me once more.
"For the most part," Her smile turned into a smirk before turning to look up toward the sky again. "But you're not half bad either."
"I thought you just called me your favorite a little while ago there," I smirked as she just chuckled beside me.
"Maybe, maybe not. The world may never know."
"So I'm the equivalent of a tootsie pop to you?"
"Oh shush, Raz." I couldn't help but laugh as she moved to shove me with her hand.
"Guess I'm a sucker then!" I couldn't help but keep laughing as Lili just shoved me again.
"I said shush, Aquato!"
"Hey! You called me a lollipop first!"
"Did not!"
"What? The world may never know to that too?"
"I'll throw you in the lake!"
"Jokes on you, Flower Child, I'll enjoy it!" Suddenly, a new laugh joined us in our antics.
"Well, you children seem to be having fun together." I sat up to look over at the new voice, which caused my jaw to drop.
"Holy-." I couldn't finish my sentence as Lili sat up as well to look over toward the agent.
"Oh hey, Milla. How are you today?"
"I'm doing beautifully, darling." The Brazillian agent smiled wide as she placed a small pillow down for her to sit down on. "Just setting up for the levitation class." She looked over toward me as she adjusted her legs in her lap. "And you must be Razputin. Sasha has told me quite a bit about you, young man." My eyes grew wide as I felt a small blush tint my cheeks.
"A-Agent Nein told you about me?" I heard Lili giggle beside me as she adjusted so she could look at Agent Vodello completely.
"Now you're going to make his poor brain short circuit, Milla." I shot a half-hearted glare as Vodello just laughed joyously.
"Well I'm just happy you had finally made a friend here, Lili." It was Lili's time to blush as she crossed her arms over her chest.
"I have friends."
"Dogen and his squirrels do not count, darling." Milla gave a smirk as she looked back over toward me. "So, Razputin, how is your stay so far? Is anyone giving you any issues or anything? Want to make sure you're being treated fairly here." She gave a wide and sweet smile that was much like a loving mother's as I just shrugged a little in return.
"Well, everyone knows who I am now so I'm waiting for a foot to drop here soon." I twisted around to sit before the agent and pulled my feet out of the water. "So far not too bad though. Not that isn't out of the ordinary for the life of an Aquato."
"Names and presumptions are a devious mix for sure." A small frown took over her lips as she put her hands on her lap. "Assumptions based upon memories of others are quite dangerous. After all, it gives the person the ability to form an idea of a person within their mind without the truth of their being."
"I've been told by a few here that my name means nothing though."
"Oh, but darling, your name means everything." I gave the agent a confused look as she continued. "It is your identity. It is who you are. Has nothing to do with your physical presence, but everything to do with who you are mentally. The name we bare and how we feel with it makes us who we are as people. Though it's the feelings others have with it that means nothing." She gave a wide smile as she closed her eyes, as if to focus on something in particular. "It is the meaning and feelings you have with it that means something." Suddenly, the woman started levitating with ease as she opened her eyes once more. "Do you understand?"
"Honestly, that's a lot to sink in."
"Years of wisdom does take more than a few seconds to understand, Razputin." Her smile only widened as she continued speaking. "It's why it takes years to get it."
"Congrats, Raz." I snapped my attention toward Lili, who had a wide smile of her own. "You've got your first Agent Vodello Wisdom Lessons."
"Is that the only lesson you take from me, Ms. Zanotto?" I could hear the smirk in the agent's voice as Lili just smirked right back at her.
"It's more than I get from Oleander."
"I'll take that proudly." The agent giggled a little at the idea as I brought my attention back toward her. "We have a little bit before the other children come around. Anything you would like to ask me before they do? You seem like the curious type."
Could you tell me why my mental field had a freaky dentist and meat flowers? I doubt that.
"Nothing really." I gave the woman a wide smile that she seemed to take in with pride. "Thanks though, Agent Vodello."
"Please, call me Milla. Agent Vodello always sounds so serious from you children." The woman gave a small laugh as she adjusted her hands in her lap to form the stereotypical mediation stance. "Even then, makes me feel older by the second."
"Sounds good, Milla." I smiled wide as I let the word fall from my lips with ease. This caused the woman to smile wide before looking over toward Lili.
"I bet you're keeping a good eye on this one?"
"Yes, ma'am!"
"Good." Milla gave a small approving nod before turning her attention back toward me. "Because you deserve much better than any form of harassment here, Razputin."
"Thanks, Milla." I looked over toward Lili with a wide smile before nudging the girl beside me. "I got this fire starter on my side though, so I bet I'll be fine."
"YOU KNOW IT, AQUATO!" Lili raised her hand up proudly as I instantly hi-fived her hand with ease.
"THE BEST DUO!" We started laughing together as Milla just smiled at us sweetly. Something was obviously dancing in her mind as she took in the scene, but neither of us cared.
I wonder if we remind her of Sasha and them? The perfect pair?
I smiled to myself as Lili's laughs subsided to little giggles.
I would think so after all.
"Are you sure it's safe to have levitation class out here, Agent Vodello?" I tried my best to not let the kid's stares unnerve me as I slipped my goggles over my eyes.
"Oh, darlings! We are completely safe out here! If the rumor of a lake monster is still messing with you, then I promise I'll protect you." Milla chuckled at herself as I swallowed dryly to myself.
The only lake monster here they fear is me.
I felt a nudge on my shoulder as I looked over to see that Lili scooted closer to me.
"Yeah, what makes you so frightened Elton? You a chicken?"
"No!" The boy flushed heavily as he crossed his arms over his chest.
"Then what's wrong, fucker?" Lili gave a wicked smile as Milla gave her a shocked look.
"Language, Lilian!" The girl just shrugged as the agent looked back over toward Elton. "Even then, I know the only reason you children are frightened is because of Razputin."
"An Aquato." I heard someone hiss my name under their breath as I just let it roll off of me.
"Razputin is more than his family name, everyone." I tried my best to keep a neutral face as Milla put emphasis on my name. "Each of you has a name you're all tied to. How about I treat all of you all like your ancestors and all?" The kids instantly went silent as they seemed to weigh their options before the agent. "Good." She pulled out a small door before placing it on her forehead. "Now let's party shall we?"
Party?
I glanced over toward Lili, who shot me a wide smile before allowing her projection to get pulled in by the portal.
Well then. Let's party!
"This place is spectacular!" I smiled wide as I balanced on my levitation ball. Lili giggled to my side as I took in the disco-like vibe each part of Milla's brain showcased to me.
"I'm glad you enjoy it, darling." Milla's voice went over the dance music smoothly as a TV screen projected her face in the heart of the final stage area. "I am quite curious about an idea though, I wonder if your hydrokinesis and levitation will go hand in hand for you in the future." Milla smiled wide as a scuff was heard behind me. "After all, who knows. Maybe you can use it to glide across the water instead of needing a boat or canoe in the future!"
"I'll have to give it a try, honestly!" I smiled like a fool as I balanced one foot on top of the levitation ball. "Levitation is quietly becoming a favorite here for me. Might be the acrobat in my system though."
"You better not pull any water shit around me, Aquato." Bobby scuffed as Milla made a small gasping noise.
"Children! Language. I swear, I told Sasha to calm his use of swears around you all but here we are!"
"Even then, Bobby, I bet I could wipe the floor with you when it comes to levitation on its own," I smirked as I flipped so I was balancing on the levitation ball with my hands instead. "After all, for someone that has done this for years, you look a little shaky in comparison."
"Show off."
"Again, I'm an acrobat," I adjusted my stance, so now I was balancing on my fingertips before leaning my weight purely onto my right hand. "Showing off is in my blood."
"So isn't murdering people." I shot Bobby a glare before flipping off my levitation ball and letting it disappear.
"Can I be excused, Milla?" I looked over toward Agent Vodello's TV projection as I tried my best to not let my blood boil.
"Are you sure, Razputin? There's still the big levitation race!"
"I'm sure." I nodded my head as Lili pipped up from beside me.
"I can go with him if it makes you uncomfortable, Agent V."
"Alright. You two can go then." Milla gave a soft frown before quickly smiling once more. "I do hope you enjoyed the dance party! Don't be afraid to come back, rockstar!" Milla gave a wink as I allowed my projection to reject myself from her mind.
Don't worry, Milla, your mind was more than welcoming.
I opened my eyes slowly as I felt connected once more with my body.
It's those within it still that make me feel the opposite.
"Are you alright, Raz?" I shot Lili an uneasy smile as I got up onto my feet. My boots were now on, unlike when we were first talking to the Mental Minx prior to training.
"Better now, honestly." I stretched to straighten my back as I looked out toward the body of water beside us. "Can only handle the whispers for so long, ya know?"
"I get ya." Lili sniffled a little after that, which caused me to give her a curious look.
"Are you getting sick or something?"
"Maybe. Might be my allergies." She shook her head a little as if she was fighting off a sneeze. "Or a head cold. Either way, I doubt I'll be sent home on ya."
"I would hope not." I chuckled a little as I held out my hand for her to grab. "You're the only kid around here that seems to still enjoy my presence." Lili smirked and took my hand with ease as she used to it help herself up.
"Aw, what around Dogen?"
"It's Dogen." We chuckled together for a second as I then continued speaking. "Like the kid means well, but he can be a bit confusing for sure."
"That's cause I swear the kid is brainless." Lili giggled at her own joke for a second as I suddenly felt a little uneasy. As if something deep within me was warning of something emerging. I instantly looked over toward the water, figuring something was going to pop right out of the service to reveal my suspicions were correct. A familiar short figure with a tin foil hat started just walking out of the water as if it was nothing with a glossed-over look to him.
"TV." The shorter boy took slow but steady steps out of the water and onto the beach as his arms stayed locked to his sides. "Teeeevee."
"The hell is wrong with him?" I shrugged as I decided to make my way from the dock toward where the boy was standing. I jumped down from the dock area to walk right across the little bit of lake water before catching up with the other boy.
"Yo, Dogen. You alright?" I shook my hand before the boy's face, but his eyes didn't seem to recognize the motion. "Dogen?"
"TV." His head then leaned back as if he couldn't hold the weight of his own head up. "Tee~." I swallowed dryly as flashes of my time in Sasha's lab came to mind.
Gotta take out that brain of yours. It's no good.
I reached out to hold the boy steady so I could look for any kind of indication of acknowledgment in his eyes.
It can't be. He can't-. Is there even a way you can live without your brain? Can a body function like that?
I turned his head slightly so I could take a quick glance in his ear, only to be welcomed to nothing. It was hollow.
He's-.
I pulled my hands away from him gently before looking over toward Lili, who had now joined the two of us. I knew right then I must have been the equivalent of a deer in headlights as I looked back toward Dogen. I tried to speak, but my voice was barely above a whisper as I couldn't believe it myself.
"He's brainless."
